Inclusive Dance: Standing and Seated Duet

Inspired by inclusive dance companies, this session forms duets in which one person dances seated in a chair and the other standing, and both share the same choreographic phrase adapted to their abilities. Every student plays both roles to discover that the chair opens up movement possibilities instead of only limiting them.

How to play

1. Everyone seated: explore what can be danced from the chair (torso, arms, head, hip turns, tilts) to music (5 min).
2. Duets: the seated partner offers a movement and the standing one translates it to their body while keeping the intent; then switch (5 min).
3. Each duet composes a 32-count phrase with three relationships: mirror, question and answer, and a moment when the standing partner drops to chair level (8 min).
4. Switch roles and repeat the phrase (2 min).
5. Half the class performs at a time, followed by a discussion of which movements gained strength when done from the chair (5 min).

Rules

• Chairs sit firmly on the floor and have no wheels; never tip a chair onto two legs.
• Nobody stands on the chair or leans on the seated partner's backrest.
• The phrase is built from what the seated partner can do, not the other way around.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair user: dances in their own wheelchair and is offered the lead on the first offer.
• Visual impairment: the duet works with consented hand contact or a verbal description of each movement.
• Autism: gets the phrase structure in writing and may work with a trusted partner.

Learning goals

• Value body diversity as a source of dance creation.
• Adapt and translate movements across different motor abilities.
• Compose an inclusive choreographic phrase in pairs.

Equipment for a class of 25

• chairs: 15
• speaker: 1

Teacher tip

If there is a wheelchair user in the class, ask them beforehand how they want to take part. Videos of inclusive dance companies make a good introduction.

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